Horses can be more fragile than most people realize. Many years a Portland PD was just getting it's horse patrol off the ground and one of the animals slipped on a metal plate in the sidewalk and fell. The animal panicked itself into a heart attack.

Horses can be more fragile than most people realize. Many years a Portland PD was just getting it's horse patrol off the ground and one of the animals slipped on a metal plate in the sidewalk and fell. The animal panicked itself into a heart attack.

There was an incident in NYC back before the Iraq war where "peace" protestors (who bore a striking resemblance to the anarchists is Seattle who cover their faces while they break stuff) scattered ball bearings in the path of mounted NYPD with the intent to bring down the horses. If I remember correctly, several officers and their horses were injured, though the focus of the news stories at the time was on the "excessive" police response.